Spring Series: The Natural World.

A closer look at the work of Barbara Wakefield, Katy B Prints and Emma Farquharson

To celebrate the arrival of spring, longer days and the coming-together of the beautiful work of our Spring Edition exhibitors at Chelsea Old Town Hall, we've been exploring spring, nature and the natural world’s influence in of some of this year’s finest work.

Join us this week as we get a closer insight to some of this year’s designer-makers discovering some of their creative influences and processes. Beginning with the stimuli of…

How do the materials you work in communicate and connect to spring and an awareness of the seasons?

Does the natural world influence your work and creative processes and if so how?

…in this post we’ll be taking a closer look at the vivid textiles work of Katy B Prints, Barbara Wakefield’s delicate ceramics and the geologically inspired jewellery of Emma Farquharson. 

Textiles designer Katy Broomfield draws on the fragility of the natural world in her bright and individually unique creations.

‘Winter to spring, spring to summer, summer to autumn, autumn to winter, my designs are influenced by the cyclical nature of the plants, trees and insects that inhabit my garden in Kent.’

‘Closely linked to the changes of the seasons, the cool greens, cobalt blues and dove greys of Winter, the lemon yellows, whites and pale pinks of Spring, the crisp bands of crimson, magenta, violet, golden yellows and fuchsia pink of Summer and the deep burnt oranges and umbers of Autumn are the constant source of inspiration for all my textiles and prints.’

‘The stark dead heads of Hydrangeas and Honesty in winter, to the graphic seed heads of autumn, are chosen by me to reflect their fragile beauty and structure. Arranging these organic forms onto hand dyed papers and overlaying them with vintage lace and patterned knitwear reminiscent of the 1920's and 30's, the image becomes permanently recorded through heat transfer, onto either soft warm fleece or floaty chiffon's, fixing a particular moment in time for eternity.’

To find out more about Katy B Prints: www.katybprints.co.uk

From her studio in South East London Barbara Wakefield crafts her work in bone china, porcelain and stoneware, drawing on the natural world for inspiration.

‘My work is greatly influenced by the natural world, and at the moment I am fascinated by birds, in particular Blackbirds.  Every year there is one nesting in the yard outside my ceramic studio, and it often scuttles around foraging for food in the tiny urban garden I have created by my doorway.’

‘It is wonderful how the coming of spring is heralded by the sound of ‘Birdsong’.  This is the inspiration behind my slipcast porcelain bowls, reflecting the season of spring with ‘Birdsong’ imagery shown through my drawings of birds and musical notation.’

‘Using a ceramic printing process I imprint this imagery onto the inner surface of the bowls and then use sweeping brush strokes of glaze to create a feeling of rhythm and flow. I also have a great interest in music and musical scores, and am researching into composers who use birdsong in their compositions, such as Olivier Messiaen and Beethoven.’

To find out more about Barbara Wakefield: www.barbarawakefield.co.uk

Emma Farquharson’s work in jewellery take inspiration from her time overseas and in the varied environments and landscapes she has lived in.

 "My formative years were spent in the Bahamas and subsequent time living in Egypt and New York has exposed me to a variety of cultural and aesthetic environments which have profoundly impacted on me.  In my work I enjoy the technical challenge of making, allowing the materials to direct and inform my designs, developing new ideas and ways of manipulating metal, inspired by the rhythmic patterns found in nature and echoed in the built environment.’

‘My signature ‘Spun’ collection focuses on the technique of coiling with wire, pressing and stretching to form work that is pared back yet complex and elegant.  Currently my work explores geometric shapes inspired by the geological rock matrix in which some gems are formed.'

 ‘By carving polyhedral shapes in wax and then casting in silver or gold, I then highlight some of the facets with accents of colour, from stones set against or into the textured and polished surfaces.’

To find out more about Emma Farquharson: www.emmaq.com or find her on facebook.

All the featured designer-makers in our Spring Series: The Natural World blog posts will be exhibiting at Handmade in Britain's up coming event at the Chelsea Old Town Hall. To find out more about the event, and book tickets head to: www.handmadeinbritain.co.uk

Tickets now on sale

Handmade in Britain 14:
Spring Edition

The Contemporary Crafts & Design Fair

9th - 11th May 2014
Chelsea Old Town Hall, London

Spring Edition is open:
Friday 9th: 11:00 - 19:00
Saturday 10th: 11:00 - 18:00
Sunday 11th: 11:00 - 18:00

Tickets are available online now at £5
Tickets on the door are £7/£5 conc.